Electric-light signal.



' No. 739,359 4 T PATENTBD SEPT. 22, 1 03.

' v. TABOULEVITSGH.

ELECTRIC LIGHT SIGNAL 7 APPLICATION TILED KAi 14.1902. no menu. a sums-sum 1'.

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*UNITE STATES Patented September 22, 199%.

PATENT OFFICE.

VALDEMAR TABOUTiEVlTSC/H, OF SSELO ALEXANDRO'WSKOJE, NEAR ST.

1 PETERSBURG, RUSSIA.

ELECTRIC-'LIQHTSIGNALQ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,359, dated September 22, 1903.

Application filed May 14,1902. 8erialNo.107,326. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

'Be it known that I VAL DEMAR TABoULE- VITSOH, of Sselo Alexan'drowskoje', near St.

' lowing statement.

. 4 is a view of the reciprocating rod. Fig. 5

This invention relates to improvements in electric-light signals, and has .for its object to produce automatically sparks of maximum frequency and power and to color them without lessening their brilliance. As in my formerpatent, No.584,427, of June 18, 1897, the sparks are generated between a stationary and a reciprocating electrode, the latter of which automatically breaks the circuit under the influence of a helix connected at one end to its top.

My improved apparatus is illustrated on the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the lantern. Fig. 2 is a plan view of. the base of the lantern. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the movable electrode with its parts separated. Fig.

is a view of the carbon-holder. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a modified form of my apparatus.

The most important part of the improved lantern is the burner or that part which produces a continuous series of electric sparks between two electrodes, one of which may be constituted of various metals-'-as, for exam ple, of steel, copper, gold, silver, &c.'-and the other of s'uitablematerial-for instance,

of coke, carbon, or'the like. For producing sparks of any required color the top electrode carries a certaindevice imparting the desired color to the sparks by spreading between the two electrodes a previously-determined quantity of a very fine'powder consisting of a substance capable of giving up the desired color.

- The burner consists of a double electromagnetic bobbin or coil 1, fixed by its inner flanges to the lid 2 of the lantern, this lid being itself screwed home upon the frame 3 of the lantern. Within the core 4 of the coil 1 the top electrode 6 is freely guided by small balls 5 and serves at the same time as a containerc for coloring substances which are caused to' spread as a very fine powder between'the two electrodes as soon as each electric spark is generated; The movable electrode 6 comprises an empty cylinder 7, the

top part of which is of'copper, while its bottom part is made of soft iron. This electrode "normally rests upon stationary electrode 8, in which position but little of its-iron portion 32 .is Within the core of the helix. :As soon,-howattracts the electrode 6 into the core 4, thus causing the circuit to be broken and the electrode to return by its own weight to itsforigi screw-threads, by means of which it may .be

screwed to the carbon-holder-lo, Where it is firmly kept in position by a pressing-nut 16. The screw-like box 14 being provided with longitudinal slits'is rendered capable of being pressed upon the pencil 13 of the electrode 8, and for raising and lowering the latter it is provided at its bottom part with two holes44 44,'crossing each'other and serving for the reception of lever-like pins.

' For attaching the carbon-holder 15 to the lantern a support 17, with twobottom claws 19 19, may, for instance, be" mounted by the two screws 18 18 upon'the base-plate apart from the central axis and insulated from the body of the lantern The said support 17 carries at its topa guide-bolt 20, which fits within aperture 21 of the carbon-holder, the holder being secured on the support by nut 22 or otherwise.

In the movable electrode 6 is inclosed the device for spreading the coloring-powder between the electrodes. This device consists of a vibrating bar 23,provided at its bottom with an extension 24 of platina, which latter en- 6o ever, as the current starts passing through r the said coil the inductive power of the same ters the hole 31 of the stopper 30, and at its top with a shoulder 25, by means of which the bar 23 is kept in position in its guidingtube 26, situated in the vertical center line of the container 7 and passing the two brackets 27 and 28. The top stopper 29 allows of pouring the powder into the electrode 6, and the bottom stopper 30 has a narrow opening 31 for permitting the powder to drop between the electrodes at the moment of their separation and the generation of the spark.

For establishing the electric circuit between the lantern and the dynamo two insulated terminals 33 and 34 of any usual or preferred construction are provided at the bottom of and outside the lantern. One of them, say 33, is brought into connection with the support 17 and the other, 34, with the conducting-wire 35, which latter passes inside the lantern through a protecting-pipe 36 and is brought into contact at its end 37 with the coil, the inner end 38 of which is connected with an insulated terminal 39, situated inside the lantern underneath its lid. To this terminal 39 a very flexible wire 40 is attached, connecting'the same with the movable up per electrode 6 by means of a small screw 41. In this fashion one of the poles of the dynamo is connected by the inner conducting-wire 36 with the electromagnetic coil and afterward with the movable electrode 6, while the other pole of the dynamo is connected through the support 17 with the carbon-holder 15 and by the pressing-screw 14 with the stationary electrode 8. As soon as the current runs through the coil 1 the latter attracts the movable electrode 6, thus breaking the contact between the two electrodes 6 and 8 and causing a very brilliant spark to be generated between them; but at the same moment the circuitis broken the top electrode, being released, drops by its own weight into its original position, thus causing it to come into contact again with the bottom electrode, whereby the circuit is closed, and the coil being magnetized again attracts the movable electrode, which action gives rise to another electric spark, and so on. By this means, therefore, a continuous series of brilliant sparks is obtained between the two electrodes, resulting in a twinkling flame of fine distinction especially adapted for maritime signals.

The action of the powder distributing mechanism is as follows: The successive shocks of electrode 6 during operation cause bar 23 to reciprocate within its guide-tube, thus forcing the powder through aperture 31. It is obvious that by adjusting plug 29 I can regulate the movement of bar 23, and thus determine the amount of powder which shall pass from the powder-chamber. When the fine powder drops between the two electrodes at the same moment as the spark is generated, it burns and increases considerably the lighting power of the spark and imparts to it the desired color. It is of course of the greatest importance that the spark be colored in this manner, since hitherto coloring the same by means of colored glasses caused its lighting power to be diminished, particularly in case the glass did not harmonize in color. with the spark.

The burner of the improved lantern is protected by glass panes 42 of the frame 3, surrounding it on three sides and having a small lantern-door 43.

For taking out top electrode and replacing the same the nut 22 must be removed, so that the bottom electrode 8 may be rendered capable of turing around axis 20, the electrode 6 becoming then accessible.

In order to regulate the distance between the upper and lower poles, the latter one may be raised or lowered by screwing home or releasing the screw 14, with the carbonholder 15, by means of small leverpins introduced into the holes 44 44.

The electromagnet-coil is protected by lid 45, the top part of which is provided with air-holes 46 46, so that the gases produced by burning the coloring-powder may be drawn off or allowed to escape.

In order to permit fresh air entering the lantern, its bottom plate is provided with openings, which are protected by small light plates, preventing the wind from passing into the lantern.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modification of this apparatus constructed similarly to the lantern shown in my former patent referred to. In this form of my invention the movable and stationary electrodes are reversed, and the stationary member holds the powder. As in Fig. 1, the movement of rod 23 is produced-by the reciprocation of the movable electrode. Like numbers of reference indicate similar parts.

Having now particularly described and as certained the nature of the said invention and t in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In an apparatus for producing electric sparks, the combination with a stationary electrode and a reciprocating electrode, of means for distributing powder between the electrode actuated by the movement of the reciprocating member.

2. In an apparatus for producing electric sparks, a stationary electrode, a reciprocating electrode provided with a powder-holding cavity, means within said cavity for feeding the powder between the electrodes and operated by the vibration of the containing electrode, and means for successively breaking the connection between the electrodes.

3. In an apparatus for producing electric sparks, a lower fixed electrode, an upper reciprocating electrode having a powder-holding cavity opening between the electrodes, and a plunger within the powder-holding cavity adapted to force the powder therefrom by the vibration of the containing electrode.

4. In an apparatus for producing electric sparks, afixed electrode, a reciprocating electrode normally in electric contact therewith and provided with an axial powder-holding chamber having an opening at the end adjacent the fixed electrode, a longitudinallymovable rod within said chamber operating to feed the powder therefrom by the Vibration of the containing electrode,an electromagnetic coil surrounding the upper end of the reciprocating electrode, and electric connection between said coil and reciprocat-' ing electrode. 1

5. An electrode for a sparking apparatus, comprising a casing surrounding a powderholding cavity and having an opening at one end, and a reciprocating rod within the cavity and operatingin the opening in the casing.

6. An electrode for a sparking apparatus comprising a hollow casing provided with a reduced opening at its lower end, a rod adapted to reciprocate in said casing and having a reduced tip operating in the opening in the casing, and a guiding-tube surrounding said rod and supported within the casing.

7. A movable electrode for a sparking apparatus, comprising a tubular casing provided at its ends with adjustable plugs, the lower of said plugs being provided with a reduced opening, a rod adapted to reciprocate in said casing and having a reduced tip operating in said opening, and a guide-tube surrounding said rod and supported by brackets within the casing. v

8. In an apparatus for producing electric sparks, the combination with the reciprocating electrode, of an adjustable stationary electrode limiting the downward movement ing electrode and exciting-helix, of a stationary electrode limiting its downward movement, at screw-threaded container therefor provided with transverse apertures at its lower end, a supporting-arm provided at one end with an internally-threaded split ring and adjusting-screw and at the other end with a vertical aperture, and a post supporting said apertured end.

11. In an apparatus for producing electric sparks, the combination with the stationary electrode, the reciprocating electrode, and electromagnetic coil surrounding the upper end of said reciprocating electrode; of aperforated retaining-cap secured to the upper end of said coil and provided with an inner resilient annulus. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

VALDEMAR TABOULEVITSCH. 

